“He is Risen!” – The traditional Christian theologist’s Easter greeting on meeting a fellow theologist on Easter Sunday, to which one should of course reply “He is risen indeed!” – The capital letter and the exclamaition both have to be sounded.
This was my opening text received on Sunday morning, from a colleague, who while not a theologist, and knowing full well that I am more surely Jedi than any stripe of Christian, is aware that we were both raised with a similar religious background, and that I am aware of the tradition.
Of course I respect your right to celebrate the return of Christ and the resultant redeeming of all of mankind – bit of a bigger do than Christmas surely? Equally I acknowledge the special day of Astra – goddess of Spring and Rebirth, symbolised by the Egg and the Hare (easter bunny be damned).
Neither of these belief systems are particularly central to my own appreciation of Easter.
My wife frequently observes that I continue to live in some idealised memory of the 1980’s (better music than the 90’s surely), and I openly admit that “my” Easter has a 1980 something flavour.
As poor students many went home for the spring break (when Easter generally falls), and that Sunday at least, was more of a shops shut day than the average Sabbath. It became something of a custom for those of us who remained in Glasgow to celebrate with a big sit down dinner (still something of a novelty at the time), often involving multiple cooks, borrowed furniture and crockery, wildy assorted cutlery, and a table cloth that might be the cleanest bed sheet available.
If (and I stress if- we’re in Glasgow here after all) the weather was clement, the afternoon might see a motley walking expedition through the Botanics or Kelvingrove or Ruchill park (Highest peak in the city), to “take the air”, build up an appetite, and possibly collect a few decorative Daffs for the table.
It was an uncharacteristic slower paced day of shared conversation, and outdoors, and appreciation. Perhaps that is indeed just my fictional idealised memory, or maybe it happened that way once, and I just project it on to all the other days where it rained and people bickered.
Still as a ideal of Easter I think that it is not a bad one, and it is remains the one I reflexifly reach for.
I wish you all; good friends, sparkling conversation and a peaceful shared day in these difficult times, may we have them back soon. Oh! and may you get the serving spoon for eating the trifle!
Happy Easter.
Next week on IaDL: “There once was a man from Dalmally…”
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 